TRENDING NOW - What's Next For Perry?

TRENDING NOW - What's Next For Perry?

08/19/2014 06:27 AM

Texas Governor Rick Perry has been indicted by a grand jury on two felony counts, allegedly for trying to force a district attorney to resign after getting a DWI. The indictment alleges he used a veto threat to withhold state money to the public integrity unit that the district attorney ran. so, what does this mean moving forward?

One thing's for certain, this is a complicated case and it could have longer term political implications for Texas and on the national landscape.

Governor Rick Perry has said in an interview that he has no regrets about the veto threat and says his opponents are playing politics.

Some big name democrats are even calling it sketchy, like President Obama's former top advisor David Axelrod.

But the special prosecutor has said Perry's claim of this being about politics is ridiculous. In fact, the Texas Democratic Party calling on the governor to resign.

To put this into perspective, the indictment is a first of a sitting governor in Texas since 1917 and if convicted, he could face a maximum of 99 years in jail.

So what does this mean politically?

Perry is entering his final few months in office and it's been rumored he is laying the groundwork for a presidential run in 2016, after failing in 2012.

Ss for his schedule, he's supposed to travel to early primary states South Carolina and New Hampshire to meet with republican activists. The indictment could obviously become a major hurdle and an issue should he decide to run.

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